Disabled Students left to struggle (Woking Liberal Democrats)

Woking Liberal Democrats <info@wokinglibdems.org.uk>

Disabled Students left to struggle

November 6, 2009 11:36 PM

Shameful to leave thousands of disabled students struggling - Lord Addington

The Government could not answer Lib Dem peer, Lord (Dominic) Addington when he asked who would take responsibility for the thousands of disabled students still waiting for essential funding.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) report less than 20% of Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) applications received for 2009-10 have been fully processed.

Applications for the next funding cycle 2010-11 will start arriving this month [November 2009] further adding to the backlog.

Lord Addington commented:

"The Students Loans Company has made a real mess of Disabled Student Allowances (DSAs). The processing of DSA applications has been a catalogue of failure and incompetence leaving thousands of students struggling to cope.

"It's a scandal that disabled students who have worked hard to secure a place at university are not getting the support they need. Many are still waiting for funding to buy special equipment so they can do their course.